What Israel Can Do for You Post-Birthright?

Since 1999, the educational program bringing young Jews (18-26) from all over the world to discover their heritage and homeland is the well-known Taglit-Birthright. A free 10-day tour of the Jewish state, the student participants either went on to please their parents and grandparents or bragged about to their friends. Today, Taglit-Birthright is just the tip of the iceberg for the adventure that awaits Diaspora Jewry from all over the world in the State of Israel.

Young Jews be proud, once you get past the 10-day tour of the country’s popular destination locations, their next trip can be a professional internship in their academic field, studying abroad, personal growth and learning about their Judaism at yeshiva, or even an amazing experience out of their comfort zone. These possibilities are not one or the other either, they can be the focal point of your next several trips! The State of Israel is the innovation nation and has it all. In the field of business, Tel Aviv is the start-up capital (but watch out of Jerusalem). For politics, the region is always changing but viewing it from Golan Heights is a little too close for comfort when one can intern with a think tank or in the Knesset itself. In the biomedical realm, the country is your oyster. One can pursue cancer research in Beersheva, pharmaceuticals in Herzliya, or even cyber-security, engineering, and computer science in Haifa.

As diverse and well-known as Israel is in these very important realms, the programs are always open due to the endless opportunities Israel offers. For the always popular professional internship, Onward Israel has become very popular and offer a plethora of possibilities. Onward Israel offers internships based on where you want to be location-wise, if you would prefer to be with people from your area, and on the amount of time one wants to be in Israel. Onward themselves say it best: “When you grow, so do your opportunities. Global experience gives you that extra competitive edge. Our programs take you Onward – personally and professionally – and allow you an authentic taste of modern day Israel while gaining experience and knowledge through an internship opportunity.” These type of organizations have been very successful in offering a multitude of programs. Jinternship, Career Israel, and Masa are just a few examples. Most of these work with each other and have good connections with many Israeli organizations in order to find you the best experience. Jinternship has become very well-known and is determined to help Jewish students from all over the world gain an edge in their career path. Though, they are not just committed to helping you find a meaningful internship, but to also assist in making meaningful friends who have a shared heritage and incorporating aspects of Judaism. Just like with Birthright, these friends and memories will last a lifetime.

Looking for a study abroad/vacation location to post about on Facebook and Instagram? Don’t overlook Israel’s amazing study abroad programs, where anyone can find anything they are looking for. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Rothberg International School is highly-ranked and offers many great opportunities in the heart of Jerusalem. From the humanities to the natural sciences, Hebrew University has it all in the most sacred city to the Jewish People. For the beach scene, look into Tel Aviv University. Located in the popular Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv’s premier club scene, TAU is also well-ranked and offers a diversity of courses.

In the Jewish state, there is always much to learn about Judaism. One way young Jewish adults are able to learn and experience their heritage is through yeshiva. A cursor to personal growth and intellectual maturity, yeshivas focus on religious texts to help their students understand their daily lives as well as the current events around them. Popular organizations for yeshiva study are Aish HaTorah, Mayanot, Ohr Somayach, and Olami. For example, Aish HaTorah, overlooking the Western Wall, has a 3-week program on Judaism and the Middle East called Aish Essentials. Aish Essentials is designed to help Jewish student start from a common level of learning and eventually advance to more in-depth classes. All the yeshiva classes offered by these programs are taught in English, but when living in the Old City of Jerusalem, get ready to learn some Hebrew as well.

Taglit-Birthright is an incredible journey and the trip of a lifetime, but the adventure does not have to stop there. Their next trip can be a professional internship in their academic field, studying abroad, personal growth and learning about their Judaism at yeshiva, or an amazing experience out of their comfort zone. While getting out of one’s comfort zone is objective, there is no better place to do it than in Israel. If traveling to a foreign country, gaining experience in your field on another continent, or studying at yeshiva does not peak your interest, there is much more Israel has to offer. Winter and Summer Birthright trips will always need more tour guides and recruiters, the adventure will truly never end.

jeff

Since 1982, Jeff Seidel has introduced thousands of Jewish college students to their first Shabbat experience as well as offered free tours and classes through his Jewish Student Centers at Hebrew U in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba, and IDC in Herzliya. He has lived in Jerusalem’s Old City for over thirty years and connected tens of thousands to the Land of Israel. He has also authored “The Jewish Traveler's Resource Guide,” which lists Shabbat placement programs around the world.

*please note- this is the list of schools we usually accept, we do sometimes accept other programs, please contact us if the program you wish to attend is not on this list.

(NOTE – If you are planning on attending Jewel, please keep in mind that you will not be able to use both the JeffSeidel scholarship and the scholarship from Jewel, as both organizations receive funding from the same Foundation.)

(NOTE – If you are planning on attending Aish, please keep in mind that you will not be able to use both the JeffSeidel scholarship and the scholarship from Aish, as both organizations receive funding from the same Foundation.)

Sponsor a Full Trip to Poland

Every Spring-semester we conduct a student mission to Polandfor the overseas students studying at Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University and Ben Gurion University. Our student mission is led by one of the premier educators of Yad Vashem, Ms. Hazy Flint.Thefour day mission includes traveling to several of the Concentration Camps including Treblinka, Majdanek & Auschwitz. Shabbat is in Krakow enabling the students to see a once vibrant city that was filled with Jewish life and is now desolate.

Cost: $1040/week

Monday night women’s leadership program

Each Monday night we host a women’s program, including a lecture series, one-on-one learning sessions and a variety of programs geared to women including challah baking, zumba classes, mikveh tour and more.

Cost: $3000

Chavrusah: Small Group Learning Program – studying on a personal level

Throughout the semester we arrange small group learning sessions and one-on-one learning sessions on a variety of topics to give the students an opportunity to learn concepts and texts they were not exposed to in the past.

Cost: $250/student

Sponsor a Full Trip to Prague

During the fall academic semester, we conducted a Shabbaton in Prague for 26 students from our 3 University Centers. Our three day Shabbaton combines the Jewish Historical sites such as the Maharal Synagogue and the Terezin (Theresienstadt) Concentration Camps, as well as the Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge.

Max Steinberg zt”l Israel public diplomacy lecture series

Launched in August 2015 as a response to the rising tide of global anti-Semitism in University campuses, our advocacy program is giving students the tools to combat BDS, anti-Israel and anti-Semitic groups upon return to their home Universities.

Cost: $1000/week

To receive tax deduction from Israel, Canada, or England, you must send a check. We can only offer tax deduction through credit card for US donations.

For Canada:

Checks should be made out to: Jewish Heritage Foundation(Formerly BETH OLOTH)Mailed to: 17 Shonei Halachot, Old City Jerusalem 97501

For Israel:

Checks should be made out to: Ohel Avraham
Mailed to: 17 Shonei Halachot, Old City Jerusalem 97501